Is democratic governance is well on the way to becoming a global entitlement, one that is increasingly promoted and protected by the collective international process?This work examines the interrelationship between governance and poverty alleviation in Africa and the impact of democratic reform on this relationship. There has been a new approach to the question of governance in Africa on the part of the international community. Economic aid and other forms of financial assistance are conditional on good governance. African states themselves in the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) have recognized good governance as a precondition to development. They have devised standards for economic and political governance.Democratic reform in Africa has been slow, difficult and at times painful. Nevertheless, sufficient time has passedto begin to assess what progress, if any, Africa has made in addressing the need for the consolidation of democratic reform and the resolution of considerable developmental challenges.Muna Ndulo is Professor of Law atCornell UniversityNorth America: Ohio U Press
